Phonograph



PHONOGRAPH 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 25, 1943 r e mu m MJT L mmm u www lw/ Q QN. Nw No y., N., A@ @L A,

June 8, 1948 I w. H. BUENTE ETAL 2,442,887

PHONOGRAPH Filed May 25, 1945 s sheets-sheet s JPkT/a 7 6/ r l 1 l ,6/ 11g-U 6/ f6,

' INVENTORS Will ard l. Puente Harr/eyl; Bunker Patented June s, 194s OFFICE JPHONOGRAPH Willard H. .Buente and Harvey TL. Bunker, Pittsburgh, Ta.

ip'plcation May 25, 1943, Serial No. 88,336

(Cl. z27d-1') 8 Claims.

`intention relates to zphonogr'aphs, and consists in :an instrument applicable to and org'anized with a vehicle and vadapted to deliver, ordinarily intermittently, in the course of a run of vehicle, audible 'adv-ide descriptive of or otherwise pertinent 'to the route las the vehicle traverses Anfobvions applicationis to a 'sightseeing bus, and to snob application reference will be made in the l.course .oT the ensuing description.

In the accompanying drawings Fig. I :is a view plan with the top removed, showing the instrument scin'reiwhat diagrammatically. Fig. II is 'a view in vertical section, on the plane inicate'd by the line .II-"II, Fig. I. Fig. III is a fragmentary View, showing the kapparatus in section, on fthe fbi-'aken :plane indicated at III'- Fig. I. Fig.' IV 'is a `view in section, on the plane indicated .at III-IV, Fig. I. Fig, V is a vfragmenta'ry view in section, and to larger scale, longitudinally of the bridge-arm 1, on the plane indicated at V-V, Fig. I. Fig. Va is a view in section on the plane indicated at Vae-Va in Fig. l. Figs. VI and VII Vare fragmentary views, showing in elevati-'on and in plan the gear rack 6 `and the drive. Fig. 'VIII 'is a fragmentary view in plan fofan element of the instrument termed the contact plate. Fig. IX is a wiring diagram. Figs. X and XI are enlarged fragmentary iront 'and side views of reverse switch 21 shown in Figs, I and IX. Fig'. XII is a fragmentary elevational view of latch 8 of Fig. I.

AReferringr to Figs. I and 1I, a 'circular record platform l will be seen, mounted for rotation within a suitable casing 10, and vin suitable position (as 'will be understood) upon the structure of a vehicle. This platform adjacent its centre of turning is equipped with a plurality of legs 3 (here shown to be four, though the exact number is not important), by means of which a correspondingly perforated record disk l, applied to and resting upon the platform, is caused to rotate in integral union with the platform. It may be understood that, but for the perforations, the record disk l is of conventional form, and bears on one or both faces the usual spiral groove to be engaged by the needle of the sound-reproducing device of the phonograph.

A needle bridge-arm 1, .pivoted at 1l, beyond but adjacent the periphery of the platform 4, rests at its distal end upon an arc-shaped gearrack 6, which is centered at 1I and which is movable longitudinally in keepers 6|. Support gears 85 are provided in` the keepers 6I which mesh with the bottom of rack 6. The bridgearm 1 fat its distal -end`carries a pinion 55 that meshes lwith teeth :formed -on the upper face of .the gear-rack yli. The pinion turns idly, to yallow the lend of the bridge-arm 1 to advance (clockwise, Fig. I), upon gear-rack '6. A stop-63 lim-its the retrograde (counter-:clockwise Fig. I) movement Vof the arc-shaped gear 4rack 6. A glance at Fig. I will show an arrangement of these parts-such that the gear-rack may advance in its 'arcuate .pa-th that lies beyond the periphery of `platform 44, 4and on the side opposite ,to that of the pivoting of the bridge-arm. 'I-he bridge-arm 1, designed for rigidity and lightness, may be Vformed of sheet steel, `shaped to box form in cross-section. Maniiestly its support at the distal end is a `iur-therfeature making for rigidity and accuracy of posi-tion in the operating assembly, l

Pivoted for vertical swing in the bridge-arm- 1 is the needle carrier 43 (of Fig. V), equipped withaneedle l5. The carrier 43 is normally held in its elevated position (the dotted-line position, Fig. V) with the needle raised from the record disk, -by a spring 48. yA solenoid 42, Whosear- .mature -45 engages the carrier 43 is effective when energized to shi-ft the carrier, against spring tension, from the dotted-line position (Fig. V) to the fulleline position byyirtue of a centrally located magneticpiece in the otherwise nonmagnetic armature 45, such structure being wellk-nown in the electromagnet art, and so to bring the needle l5 to engagement with the record disk l. When the solenoid is de-energized the needle resumes inactive position. As in the familiar phonograph, the rotation of the disk, with its sound groove engaged by the needle, effects Ythe gradual swing of the bridge-arm 1 in clockwise direction (Fig. I). The sound generated by the vibration of the needle as it follows the sound groove in the record disk l is delivered through an amplifier I2. The casing 10 is provided with a grill opening I3, to aiord freer emergence of sound. I

The record-carrying platform 4 is rotated by means of a rotating shaft 26, through the bevelgears 35, 36 shown in Figs. I and II; and shaft 26 in turn is driven, through the gear transmission I9, 525, by the rotating shaft 12, which iS a rigid continuation of a flexible shaft 2|. Through this flexible shaft 2l the rotating members that have been designated are driven from the transmission apparatus of the vehicle, with the eiect that the record-bearing platform 4 rotates as the vehicle travels, 'and at a 'rate of rotation that accords with the .speed of the vehicle.

While the record rotates so long as the vehicle advances, provision is made that the phonograph may speak at intervals in the progress of the advance, but not ordinarily continuously. It is to such end that the needle I5 is organized, in the manner described, to swing between active and inactive positions, and the means for eecting the ordered swing of the needle are now to be described.

Rotatably mounted in the casing 1I), and conveniently in concentric position beneath the platform 4 is a master disk 2. It is supported upon bearings 62. It is engaged peripherally by a brush 13 (cf. the wiring diagram, Fig. IX). p

The disk 2 is formed of conducting material but the continuity of current-transmitting contact of the brush with the rotating disk is inter rupted by the formation of the periphery ofthe disk with alternate segment-shaped blocks I4 and IB of Vconducting and of insulating material. The disk 2 is rotated in simultaneity with platform 4 by a shaft 3i] which, through the counter-shaft 22 and Vthe gear transmission shown in Fig. I, is connected with the platformdriving shaft 26, .andV` which through the gear connection 3|, 32, 3d drives the disk 2. Comparingf Figs. I and V with the wiring diagram, Fig. IX (and with-reservation concerning parts yetfto be described) ,it will be seen that, as the vehicle travels and the platform 4 and the disk 2 turn, the solenoid-152 will be intermittently energizednland the v phonograph will alternately speak and be silent. f

Thus it appears that disk 2 is a master disk, andfof coursefis carefully prepared, with its alternate peripheral Vblocks of conducting and nonconducting material'severally of predetermined extent. In an instrument built for service, the disk A2 maybe 16 vinches in diameter, andV the driving gear may be so proportioned that for every mile of travel ofthe vehicle the disk 2 will turnthrough aninter'val at its periphery of threethirty-seconds of aninch (=40' in angular turning); and a complete rotation of disk 2 will be effected byv vehicleftravel of 536 miles. Suppose a sight-seeing bus, traveling over a route-of approximately 500 miles or less, to be equipped with aninstrument of the invention. It is desired that the phonograph shall speak at intervals, describing objects of interest as in the course ofthe run they are reached, but shall at othertimes remain silent,

Recorddisk II is first prepared, by recording the speech of one` who makes explanation at proper.intervals while traversing in a proper vehicle the. route determined upon; and, in the .progress of the making of the record, the readings of the odometer will be noted at the beginning and at the end of each portion of the speech. The master disk 2 is then prepared in the shop, with the aidof instruments of precision. The extent of the successive portions I4v and I6 of conducting .and of non-conducting material will be precisely determined, according to the odometer readings last mentioned. When the two disks I and2 have been prepared they are checked inthe shopandtheir synchronization ensured. vThen as` many duplicatesas may be desired may be produced from them.

It has been foundk in actual performances that, within the range .of ordinary travel of such a vehicle asa sight-seeing bus (2O to 50 miles per hour-the actual figures will depend on the speed ratio adopted) the instrument` here described will deliver -a readily intelligible utterance; but

'4 that, at speeds beyond the range indicated, the utterance will not be intelligible. It is desirable, therefore, that the amplier I2 be active within, but only within, such range of speed. Upon the shaft 26 a sleeve 31 is mounted to slide freely. This sleeve is carried by a weighted toggle structure III of familiar sort, which, secured at its lower end (Fig. I) to the shaft 26 and rotating h with the shaft, spreads laterally and contracts longitudinally of the shaft as speed increases Vand elongates again (as under the inuence of a Thus,

spring, not shown) as speed diminishes. theposition of the sleeve 31 upon shaft 26 is an expression of the speed of travel of the vehicle.

- The sleeve is provided externally with circumferentially extending teeth and becomes a rack, that is engaged by a pinion 38, .and pinion 38 carries an Varm el which throughout its range of swing makes contact with an arc-shaped plate 48. The arm 4I is of conducting material and the plate 49 is in part only of conducting material, and the cooperating parts `4II and 4I become a make-and-break device, through. which a circuit is closed when, and only when, and only so long as, the vehicle is traveling at a speed of 20-50 miles an hour.' Referring again to the diagram'Fig. IX,it will be perceived that the circuit which energizes the solenoid 42 and brings the lneedle I5 to operative engagement with the record disk I and which energizes also the amplifier I2 .is completed when the contact of arm ril .with plate 49 lies between the points marked 28 and 58; Then onlyis the phonograph effective, The shaft 26 `carries an emergency reverse switch Y1 held normally closed by a tension spring 21a (Figs. I, IX,'X'and XI) whose operating member is in the Well-known form of a lever pivotally mounted in a peripheral` pocket on shaft 26 soV as tobe centrifugally operated only in one direction and which, when 'the vehicle moves backward, immediately breaks the circuit and interrupts phonograph operation. When this has happened and the vehicle is to travel Vforward again, thecircuit will notautomatically be restored; but, when the predetermined routeis resumed, a push button 29 must be pushed in order to overcome the compression of compression spring 29h which'normally tends to keep the switch of relay 28 open and thereby complete a circuit through the holding coil 28a of relay 28 which energized will effect closing again Vof the circuit through thev Vswitch 21, bearing in mind the fact that switch 21 has .previously closed by virtue of the tension of tension spring 21a that normally keeps the switch in a closed position.V

The transmission shaft 12 is journaled in a bar e9, which is movable upon guide pins .5I within casing 19. It is held in the position shown in Fig. I by a latch 8 shown in detail in Fig. XII that has ratchet;V teeth that may be selectively engaged with the casing 18. Latch 8 has a knob portion pivotally mounted on bracket 49h which, in turn, is integrally secured'to bar 49. Leaf spring 8c, also secured to bar 49, urges the knob downwardly so that its ratchet teeth 8a selectively engagea xed pawl 8b rigidly secured to bracket 49a. Thus bar 89 may be adjustably positioned with respectY to casing 19. The bar 49 is backed by springs IB'that, so long as the latch 8 is closed, are held under tension. When, however, the latch isopened the springs I8 are effective to shift the bar and with it the shaft 12. Suchshifting of the shaft carries gear-wheel I9 out of engagementwith gear-wheel 28 and the instrument no longer operates in response to ve- 1.11911; iglaYel. 'I 'his 1s a, I zfacticallx necessary feat f in; happend'in'fn for the easing; i'sj 'also 'mingled'. in 'b like shaiit 1 2, it 'is Shiite@ lngn phonograph), the correspon@ te, at th But nownis. phohlgr hl'is settingfahdwill not; properly Synchronized S isoperiei, andbythej mandataris turn1 c 1 1"ba I mak..

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' fogliorizo @gege .ont 0i the rack with the Pinie?. Will.; swine @o be'nd, 'tliellbproprite rcor'qdiski is loc'ed: on the pigtforin and. the, appropriate,

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YWe claim as our invention: 1 Phonographmechanism for-installation in a vehicle, which comprises, in combination, a turnf4 tablesaptedtofreceive o ,phonograph record; a needle armapiedatofswing overerecord, pla-ced.

0n thetulnfaloleL a pivotal mounting for, ena

Qfffthe needle,- arm positioned beyond, but, @dief centth the periphery Offthe tulmtable, agneedle holder.. Qn the Said am a. needlein the needle holder, instantaneouslyoperating mechanismfon bringing the needlefint engagement with the legend,- aifl; foe predeierminedly, instontenously releasinetheneeoleirom the Seid record., Power.. treesmisipniestiwnen @Eties frectnefxoef tio. 0, the tlmteeleat;@Speed-,in aCordvw-ith eeszo vehiele., Havel, @Clutch irl these@ iistiumenteliiesw preietemnelly rendering; the turntable no eresponsii/ef tf1- vehicle, trai/e1, n h. C1 this, 01mmL C Qntrl. mefrhfinism for (fiminineselecte@ and- Closing- Off the dei@ means forhprl'bniellif Swinging the Heedle arm about, its Pivotal, momma when the; cll'tc is op'en, andfafmanuglly rotatable, shaft; carrie@ by .the clutch'. control mechanism ac laipt'ed a vehicle, which comprises, in combination, a turntable adapted to receive a phonograph record, a needlearm adapted to swing over a record placed on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for the needle arm Vpositioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, a needle holder mounted on the said needle arm, a needle in the holder adapted to be brought into, and out of, operative engagement with the record, the needle holder being movable in its mounting between positions of needle engagement with and out of engagement with the record, instantaneously operating mechanism for bringing the needle into engagement with the record and for predeterminedly releasing the needle from the said record, power transmission instrumentalities including :means for effecting rotation of the turntable at a speed in accord with the speed of vehicle travel, and a clutch in the said power transmission instrumentalities for predeterminedly rendering the turntable vnon-responsive to vehicle travel, control mechanism for effecting selected opening and closing of the clutch, means for horizontally swinging the needle arm about its pivotal mountlingwhen the clutch is open, the said means for swinging the needle arm including a double rack extending in, and movable longitudinally in, an arc-shaped course centered at the pivotal mounting for the needle arm, means effecting a toothed engagement between the needle arm and rack, and a manually rotatable shaft carried by the clutch control mechanism and connectible with the said rack for swinging the needle arm horizontally responsively to opening the clutch, the connection between the manually rotatable shaft and rack including a pinion engaging the said rack, the said rack becoming disconnected" from the manually rotatable shaft responsively to actuation of the clutch control mechanism to close the clutch.

3. Phonograph mechanism for installation in motor driven vehicles, which comprises in combination, a turntable vfor carrying a phonograph record adapted to enable reproduction of articulate speech recorded thereon, a source of electric current, va master disc, mechanism for rotating the turntable and master disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for' the needle bridge-arm positioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, a needle carrier on the needle bridge-arm, a needle in the said needle carrier, a, spring normally holding the needle out of contact with the record, a solenoid in circuit with the source of current for bringing the needle into engagement with the record responsively to closing a circuit through the master disc and source of current, means on the master disc for predeterminedly closing and interrupting the said circuit, and means for rotating the master disc and turntable in accordance with the speed of travel of the vehicle.

4. Phonograph mechanism for installation in motor driven vehicles, which comprises, in combination, a turntable for carrying a phonograph record adapted to enable reproduction of articulate speech recorded thereon, an electrically conductive master disc, a source of current, mechanism for rotating the turntable andmaster disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for the needle bridge-arm positioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, a needle carrier on the needle bridgearm, a needle in the said needle carrier, a spring Ya circuit'through the master disc and source of current, an electric contact engaging the master disc, a lead connecting the Contact and solenoid, means on the master disc for predeterminedly and intermittently rendering the masterV disc nonconductive, thereby predeterminedly releasing the needle from the record, means-for slowly rotating the master disc and turntable in accordance with the speed of travel of the vehicle, means for starting the rotation of the master disc and turntable incident to starting the vehicle, and means forrrendering .the recorded speech inarticulate until the vehicle has reached a predetermined speed and whenever another predetermined speed is exceeded. y

` 5. Phonograph mechanism for installationin motordriVen vehicles, which comprises in combination, a turntable, record-retaining means on the turntable adapted to hold a record placed on the turntable from accidental displacement, the said record being provided with complementary means for engaging the said retaining means for holding the record in place on the turntable, the said record having recorded thereon passages of speech to conform to points along a usual route of travel of the vehicle, a source of current, an electrically conductive master disc, mechanism for rotating theturntable and master disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for the needle bridge-arm positioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, a needle holder on the needle bridge-arm, a needle in the said needle carrier, a spring normally holding the needle out of contact with the record, a solenoid coil in circuit with the source of current, the needle holder being themovable member of the solenoid, energizing ofthe solenoid coil bringing the needle into engagement'with `the record responsively to closing a circuit through the master disc and source of current, an electric contactV engaging the master disc, a lead connecting the contact and vsolenoid coil, electrically non-conducting segments predeterminedly spaced Varound the master disc for engagement with the said electric contact, thereby releasing the needle from the record during passage of the contact over the non-conducting segments, the needle being appliedinstantaneously to the record responsively to the successive engagement of the contact with conductive portions'of the master disc, means for slowly rotating the'masterdisc and turntable in accordance with the speed of travel of the vehicle, instrumentalities for starting the rotation of the master disc and turntable incident to starting the vehicle, and mechanism for rendering the master disc and turntable inoperative upon departure of the vehicle from its usual route of travel.

6. Phonograph mechanism for installation in motor driven vehicles, which comprises, in combination, a'turntable, record-retaining means on the turntable adapted to hold a phonograph` record having recorded thereon passages of speech to conform to points along a usual route of travel of the vehicle, a source of current, an electrically conductive master disc, mechanism for' rotating the turntable and master disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting ,for the needle bridge-arm positioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, a needle carrier on the needle bridge-arm, a needle in the said needle carrier, a spring normally holding the needle out of contact with the record, a solenoid coil in circuit with the source of current, the needle holder being the movable member of the solenoid, energizing of the solenoid coil instantaneously bringing the needle into engagement with the record responsively to closing a circuit through the master disc and source of current, an electric contact engaging the master disc, a lead connecting the said contact and solenoid coil, electrically non-conductive segments spaced around the master disc for engagement with the said contact, the segments corresponding to spaces between the recorded passages on the record, passage of the contact over the non-conductive segments releasing the needle from the record, the needle being instantaneously reapplied to the record upon engagement of the contact with conducting portions of the master disc, mechanism for slowly rotating the master disc and turntable during travel of the vehicle, instrumentalities for starting the rotation of the master disc and turntable incident to starting the vehicle, mechanism for rendering the master disc and turntable inoperative upon departure of the vehicle from its usual route of travel, and instrumentalities for setting the master disc and turntable with the record thereon to a passage on the record corresponding to desired points along the usual route after return of the vehicle thereto.

'7. Phonograph mechanism for installation in motor driven vehicles, which comprises, in combination, a turntable for receiving a record, a record on the turntable having recorded thereon passages of articulate speech, a source of electric current, a master control disc, mechanism for rotating the turntable and master disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for one end of the needle bridge-arm positioned beyond, but adjacent to, the periphery of the turntable, the said needle bridge-arm having its other end adapted to move in an arc having the pivotal mounting for its center, a holder for the needle secured to the bridge-arm intermediate the pivotal mounting and the said end of the bridge-arm, means for supporting the said end of the bridge-arm for rigidly carrying the said bridge-arm, the said supporting means including a movable double rack adapted also to swing the said needle bridge-arm over the record, the said double rack extending in, and movable longitudinally in, an arc-shaped course centered at the pivotal mounting of the needle bridge-arm, mechanism for thus moving the said rack, a pinion on the said end of the needle bridge-arm adapted to travel on the rack incident to movement thereof, a spring around the needle holder tending to lift the needle bridge-arm and needle away from the record, a solenoid coil enclosing the needle holder and positioned below the spring, the solenoid coil being in circuit with the source of current7 the needle holder being the movable member of the solenoid, energizing the solenoid coil pulling the needle holder and bridge-arm against the spring until the needle operatively engages the record, responsively to closing a circuit through the master contact disc and source of current, an electric contact member engaging the master disc, a lead connecting the contact member and solenoid coil, and means on the master control disc for predeterminedly intermittently interrupting the circuit through the solenoid coil for releasing the needle from the record at selected intervals.

8. Phonograph mechanism for installation in motor driven vehicles, which comprises, in combination, a turntable for carrying a phonograph record adapted to enable reproduction of articulate speech recorded thereon, a source of electric current, a master disc, mechanism for rotating the turntable and master disc at the same speed, a needle bridge-arm adapted to move over the record on the turntable, a pivotal mounting for the needle bridge-arm, positioned beyond, but adjacent to the periphery of the turntable, a needle carrier on the needle bridge-arm, a needle in the said needle carrier, a spring normally holding the needle out of contact with the record, a solenoid in circuit with the source of current for bringing the needle into engagement with the needle responsively through the circuit of the master disc and source of current, means on the master disc for predeterminedly closing and interrupting the circuit, means for rotating the said master disc and turntable in accordance with the speed of travel of the vehicle, and means for rendering the speech on the record inarticulate upon the vehicle reaching a speed of travel in exw cess of a predetermined maximum,

WILLARD H. BUENTE. HARVEY L. DUNKER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the iile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 909,502 Woodruff Jan. 12, 1909 1,464,329 Mosley Aug. 7, 1923 1,666,503 Niethamer Apr. 17, 1928 1,810,062 Taylor June 16, 1931 

